Water-dispensing system

ABSTRACT

A water-dispensing system of a household refrigerator has a valve and an inlet connected to a pressurized water supply source for controllably passing water through and from the refrigerator. A freezing tank is positioned in the water-dispensing system downstream of the valve and at a location wherein only a middle portion of the tank is subjected to below-freezing temperatures for forming ice therein. The freezing tank has movable walls for passing water over the ice in response to opening the valve. The water is thereby chilled by the ice prior to discharge from the water-dispensing system.

United States Patent [191 1111 3,908,394

Jacobus Sept. 30, 1975 [541 WATER-DISPENSING SYSTEM 3.834.178 9/l974Pink 62/338 [75] Inventor: Dwight W. Jacobus, Louisville. Ky.

Primary E.\'ammerCarroll B. Dorlty, Jr. 1 Asslgncc: General EleancCompany, Assistant E.\'aminerRonald C. Capossela Louisville. Ky.

[22] Filed: Nov. 14, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT App]. No.: 523,694

[52] US. Cl. 62/339; 62/59; 62/393; 222/146 C [51] Int. Cl. FZSD 23/12[58] Field of Search 62/59, 338, 339 389, 39 B; 222/146 C [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1.489754 4/1924 Fruen 62/59 X3,429,140 2/1969 White 62/339 3.511.4l5 5/1970 Crowc 62/339 X Awater-dispensing system of a household refrigerator has a valve and aninlet connected to a pressurized water supply source for controllablypassing water through and from the refrigerator. A freezing tank ispositioned in the water-dispensing system downstream of the valve and ata location wherein only a middle portion of the tank is subjected tobelow-freezing temperatures for forming ice therein. The freezing tankhas movable walls for passing water over the ice in response to openingthe valve. The water is thereby chilled by the ice prior to dischargefrom the waterdispensing system.

6 Claims. 5 Drawing Figures US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 3,908,394

1' WATER-DISPENSING'SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A desirablefeature for a household refrigerator" is a cold-water dispensing systemwhich'permits a user to obtain a glass of cold water from a chillingtank 'within' the refrigerator without opening the refrigerator door.US. Pat. No. 3,429,l40'-'"White showsan example water-dispensing systemofa refrigerator.

'Although'th e'se wate'r d'ispensingsystems functioned satisfactorilyfitwas b'e'lieved'th'at the system could be improved by in'clu'dingapparatus whieli would provide colder"waterandwhich'wotilddispense withthe need for a large Chilling tank.- A

The'apparatus of this invention uniquely provides these functions. 4 I

SUMMARY OF THE lhlVEhl'IIOlfil I BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TI-IE DRAWINGS.FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic partial view of the apparatus of thisinvention installed in a household refrigerator;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view in partial section of the apparatus ofthis invention installed in the waterdispensing system;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic sectional view of one embodiment of the middleportion of the holding tank at the first position;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view of another embodiment of themiddle portion of the holding tank; and

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 3 withthe middle portion of the holding tank at the second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the embodiment of FIG. 1, awater-dispensing system of a household refrigerator 12 has a valve 14 1and an inlet 16 connected to a pressurized water supply source 18.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a freezing tank 20 is positioned in thewater-dispensing system 10 at a location downstream of the valve 14. Thefreezing tank 20 is also positioned at a location at which only the tankmiddle portion 22 is maintained at a temperature less than 32F and thefirst and second end portions 24, 26 are maintained at a temperaturegreater than 32F. For additional cooling capabilities, a plurality offreezing tanks 22 can be positioned in the system.

The preselected temperature ranges of the freezing tank portions 22, 24,26 maintained by positioning the middle portion 22 of the tank 20 withinthe freezing compartment 28 and the end portions 24, 26 outside saidfreezing compartment 28. For example, the first and second end portions24, 26, as shown in FIG. 1, are positioned within the insulated walls 30of the refrigerator12 at which location the temperature remains at avalue greater than about 32F'during normal operationof't'he"refrigerator 12.

The middle portion 22 of the freezing tank 20 has movable walls 32.Preferably, the tank 20 isan elongated conduit "formed of a materialsuch as rubber or organic plastic, for example, for movement of thewalls 32 between first and second positions. At the first position ofthe iwalls 32, the open-endedchamber 34 defined by said walls 32 has afirst cross-sectional area of a'pr'esel cted size. At the secondposition of'the' walls 32, the chamber '34 has a second cross-sectionalarea that "is greater than the first cross-sectional area.

A biasing means 36'is associated with the middle portion 22 of'thefreezing tank 20 for urging the tank walls 32 toward the first positionat about atmospheric pressure ,Within the chamber 34. The biasing means36 also controls the'wall ino'vement toward thesecond position inresponse to opening the valve 14';

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the biasing means 36 can be an elongated,deflectable element of a general C" crosssectional configuration. Asshown in FIG. 4, there can be a plurality of the deflectable elements36, 36. These elements can be formed of metal or plastic and areco'nstructed to provide aforce' sufficient to move the walls 32 to thefirst position at about atmo spheric pressure and permit movement of thewalls to the second position in response to water'pressure from thepressurized water source 18 being subjected thereupm; I

Once the size and properties of the holding tank 20 have been determinedand the pressure of the water supply source 18 is' known, one skilled inthe art can easily construct the biasing means 36 for operation, as morefully described hereinafter. It should be understood, however, that thebiasing means 36, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are for example purposes,and other biasing means such as a spring and plunger can be utilized.The biasing function can also be provided by forming the tank walls ofan elastomeric material such as rubber.

In order to provide for expansion during freezing of the water withinthe middle portion 22, a sump 38 is connected to the outlet 40 of thedispensing system 10 and the second end of the holding tank 20. The sump38 is in communication with the chamber 34 through opening 35.

An example apparatus of this invention is as follows:

Number of freezing tanks 2 parallel Middle Portion Material Rubber TotalLength Cm Inside diameter 1.5 Cm Cross'sectional area first positionI.76Cm Cross-sectional area second position 7.64 Cm Total Volume Firstposition l40.8 Cm Second position 61 1.2 Cm Outlet Inside diameter 3 CmLength 6 Cm In the operation of the system, the water in the chamber 34at the middle portion 22 of the freezing tank 20 freezes to ice duringperiods when the system is not in use. Since the chamber 34 is at aboutatmospheric pressure after the valve 14 is closed, the walls 32 of theholding tank 20 are biased inwardly to their first position during thefreezing process (See FIG. 3). During the freezing process, the water inthe first and second end portions of the tank is maintained at atemperature greater than 32F.

Subsequently, the valve 14 is opened to remove a volume of chilled waterfrom the dispensing system. As the valve opens, the pressure of thewater-supply source is subjected onto the walls 32 of the freezing tank20. This water pressure overcomes the biasing force of the biasing means36 and causes the walls 32 to move outwardly to their second position asshown in FIG. 5. At this second position, water 42 from the water-supplysource 18 flows between the walls 32 and the ice 44 and in directcontact with the ice, thereby chilling the water.

When the users glass is filled, for example, the valve is closed, thepressure within the middle portion 22 of the holding tank 20 returns toatmospheric pressure, the biasing means 36 moves the walls 32 to thefirst position, and another freezing cycle is initiated.

Where a sump 38 is utilized, water in the outlet 40 and a portion of thewater in the second end portion 26 passes into the sump 38 duringexpansion of the freezing water. A subsequent flow of water through thesystem causes the water in the sump 38 to be pulled intothe outlet anddischarged. By providing the sump 38, water will not be discharged fromthe outlet 40 during freezing of the ice. If the outlet 40 and secondend portion 26 are of desirable small volume and the dispensing systemis associated with a drain trap to catch overflows or drippings, thesump 38 can be eliminated Other modifications and alternations of thisinvention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from theforegoing discussion, and it should be understood that this invention isnot to be unduly limited thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In a waterdispensing system of a household refrigerator having avalve and an inlet connected to a pressurized water-supply source forcontrollably passing chilled water through and from the refrigerator,the improvement comprising:

a freezing tank having movable walls defining a chamber open at the endsand being positioned in the water-dispensing system downstream of thevalve and at a location within the refrigerator at which only a middleportion of the tank is maintained at a temperature less than 32F forforming ice in said chamber with said walls being movable in response toopening the valve for passing water over the ice.

2. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, including means for urging thetank walls inwardly at about atmospheric pressure within the chamber andcontrolling the wall movement outwardly in response to opening thevalve.

3. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the means is adeflectable element of a general C crosssectional configuration.

4. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the freezing tank is anelongated, flexible conduit.

5. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, including a sump positioned inthe dispensing system between the outlet and the freezing tank.

6. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the movable tank wallsare formed of elastomeric material.

1. In a water-dispensing system of a household refrigerator having avalve and an inlet connected to a pressurized watersupply source forcontrollably passing chilled water through and from the refrigerator,the improvement comprising: a freezing tank having movable wallsdefining a chamber open at the ends and being positioned in thewater-dispensing system downstream of the valve and at a location withinthe refrigerator at which only a middle portion of the tank ismaintained at a temperature less than 32*F for forming ice in saidchamber with said walls being movable in response to opening the valvefor passing water over the ice.
 2. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1,including means for urging the tank walls inwardly at about atmosphericpressure within the chamber and controlling the wall movement outwardlyin response to opening the valve.
 3. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 2,wherein the means is a deflectable element of a general ''''C''''cross-sectional configuration.
 4. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1,wherein the freezing tank is an elongated, flexible conduit. 5.Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, including a sump positioned in thedispensing system between the outlet and the freezing tank. 6.Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the movable tank walls areformed of elastomeric material.